Life-boat.



F- A. GRAHAM.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. l h 911- Q 1 ,278,1 1. Patented Sept, 10, 1918.

2 SHE ETSSHEET I.

fl INl/E/TITOR Frankfl. Graham A TTOR/VEYS F. A. GRAHAM.

LIFE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. l I. 1917- Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.-

- INVENTOR I Fran/70.14,. Gm ham/ WITNESSES A TTOHNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK ARCHIE GRAHAM, or HARBOR SPRINGS, MICHIGAN.

LIFE-BOAT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK A. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Harbor Springs, in the county of Emmet and State of Michigan, have invented a new and Improved Life-Boat, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: to provide boats of the character mentioned which may be stored within small compass; to provide boats having a full service equipment at all times; to provide boats of the character mentioned which may be nested one within the other; to provide means for propelling the boat adapted for the employment of unskilled labor; to provide a rigging for boats so constructed which avoids the need of skilled labor in placing the same in service; and to provide boats of the character mentioned with centerboard attachments for steadying the action of the boat.

Drawings.

Figure 1 is a pictorial view showing a boat constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention as in service;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of a boat constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, the section being taken as on the median line thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail view on an enlarged scale showing in vertical section the mechanism employed for propelling the boat;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the boat;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on an enlarged scale, the section being taken as on the line 55 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in enlarged section, the section being taken as on the line 66 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail view in section on an enlarged scale, the section being taken as on the line 7-7 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing several boats constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention in their nested or stowed relation.

Description.

As seen best in Fig. 8 of the drawings, boats constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention are dis posed one within the other when stowed.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 11, 1917.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Serial No. 190,752.

In this position, it will be noted that the.

gunwhales 12 are disposed in superposed relation. It will also be noted in the same figure, that in the inactive position of the boats, which the figure illustrates, the jury mast frames 13 are folded to surround the said gunwhales at the bow of the boat. The frames 13 when in active position, such as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, are so spread that the feet of one of the frames are held-by the pivot bolts 14 and the feet of the other frame are held by the pivot bolts 15. In the folded position as shown in Fig. 8, the feet of both frames are held by the bolts 14. The frames 13 are pivotally united each to the other by a bolt 16. The frames 13 when disposed in service relation support a sail 17, the lower end of which is made fast to the eye-bolt 18 at the bow of the lifeboat, or otherwise arranged as conditions may require.

The life-boat has for a flooring a series of gratings 19. The gratings 19 rest on a central keel which is box-like in construction, the sides 20 of the keel being spaced apart to form a channelway which is closed adjacent the cut water 21,-by a floor 22, which extends to a header. The header 23 and a second header 24 are disposed at the extremes of a pocket 25, wherein a fin or center-board 26 rests when the boats are in nested position.

.As shown in Fig. 2, the center-board 26 normally extends below the bottom of the keeland of the boat. The pocket 25 is covered tightly by a flooring 27, which prevents the admission of water to the body of the boat when the boat is in active service. The header 24 forms a terminal wall of a pocket 28. The pocket 28 is provided for the mounting of a transmission mechanism, by means of which the propeller 29 is operated. The propeller 29 is disposed in a pocket 30, which is separated from the pocket 28 by the inclined wall 31. The rear of the pocket 30 is sealed by an inclined wall 32, which joins the flooring 33 to form the bottom at the rear end of the keel.

The transmission mechanism which operates the propeller consists primarily of a bevel gear wheel 34. The teeth of the gear' The gear wheel 3st is suitably mounted on a stud shaft 3 The stud shaft, as seen best in Fig. t of the drawings, is mounted in a standard 10 at one side of the gear wheel to enable the same to be rotated by a crank pin extending from the back of the said gear wheel and to which a connecting rod -.t1 is attached. The connecting rod 1 :1 pivotally attached to a crank l2. on a rocking shaft 13. As shown best in Fig. t of the drawings. the rocking shaft 43 is connected by means of rods it. with swinging bars to. he bars to are pivotally attached to rocking sockets +7. The sockets i? are provided for receiving in, active service. the swinging bars to which are inserted therein. When iii-actively disposed. the bars it?) are lifted from the sockets. which may be folded below the level of the gratings 19, and thereby avoid interference with the nesting or slowing of the boats.

Before 01' after one of the boats is launched. the rudder 48 is shipped. the same being connected with the boat by means of a pivot pin i The pivot pin t9 is suitably mounted in a bracket 50. The rudder l8 is provided with a tiller bar 51.

The gnnwales 12 are constructed in any suitable manner. either as hollow pontoons or from some suitable solid tloating material. such as cork.

To assist the propeller 29 and prevent the drag of the water in the chamber 30 thereof. 1 provide an air pump 52. having a delivery pipe 53. the delivery end whereof enters the pocket 30 in front of the propeller 2t). ll'hen air pressure is supplied by the pump 52 to the pocket 30. the water in the said pocket is forced therefrom and through the blades of the propeller 29.

It is obvious that when provided with boats constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, an increased number may be carried on a vessel. owing to the fact that the boats are arranged to nest one within the other. 9 lso it is obvious that when boats constructed and provided as above described are launched, they are fully equipped with the necessary means for propelling the same. thus avoiding disasters which have resulted from launching boats without means for propelling the same.

Then these boats are launched. the swinging or lever bars 16 are taken from their lashings and placed in the sockets 47. It will be observed that there are four or more such lever bars. The occupants of the boats may be employed in rocking the lever bars 16, the connecting bars t5. through the connecting rods all. rocking the shaft 43. The shaft #13 being rocked. the gear wheel 34 is rotated with the result that the propeller Q9 driven.

It will be understood that no special instruction being required for operating the lever bars 16 all the passengers or occupants of a boat could contribute to the necessary labor for driving the boat to a port. .f it is desired to increase the headway of the boat and to complement the propulsive force of the propeller 29, the sail 1? is hoisted. this being done by connecting the lower end of the sail to the eye-bolt 1S and the upper end of the sail to the bolt 16.

It will also be understood that as each boat is lifted from its nested position. the center-board 2(3 of each drops to the service position. such as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Any sudden effort to capsize the boat will be counteracted by the resistance of the center-board.

Then the boats are lifted from the water or originally stowed on deck. the centerhoards are held each in its pocket The frames 1 are lowered by releasing the feet of one t of the frames and by removing the bolts The bolts 1% are then passed through the holes in the feed of the freed frame and the double frame allowed to rest in parallel relation to the gunwale 12 at the bow end thereof.

lVhen the rudders 48 are unshipped and the levers 4t? lifted from the sockets 47. they are stowed in the recesses below the gratings l). The sockets l? are disposed in lowered position as also is accomplished with the pump 52. so that no projection extends above the gratings 19 in each of the boats. It is obvious that in this position, the boats may be stowed in the manner described. it is equally obvious that when the boats are launched. all of the essential devices necessary for the propulsion of each boat will be found therein.

0 him a.

1. The combination of a series of openbodied beats. the hull of each. of said boats being adapted to fit within the bulls of the others of said boats; and propelling means for said boats embodying jury-masts, said masts bein formed from a series of bowed frames. said frames corresponding in shape with the bow of said boats to encompass the same.

2. The combination of a series of openbodied beats. the hull of each of said boats being adapted to tit within the hulls of the others of said boats; propelling means for said boats embodying jury-masts, s .d masts being formed from a series of bowed frames, said frames corresponding in shape with the bow of said boats to encompass the same; and means for holding said frames in spread relation to support the upper end of a sail.

FRANK ARCHIE GRAHirM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, 3. G. 

